New Year, Same Closet?
Another holiday season in the books—and with it, another avalanche of sweaters. If you're staring at an overstuffed and uninspiring closet, you're not alone.
This is the time of year when we make resolutions to do better. But here's what I've learned: the problem isn't us. It's the system.
So, before you vow to "buy less" in 2026, let me show you something more effective—and honestly, more interesting.
Why Your Closet Feels Full (and Still Missing Something)
Here's what I found when I started researching: The average person buys 60% more clothing now than they did 15 years ago—and keeps it for half as long. That caught my attention.
Because if we're buying more and keeping it less... where's it all going?
According to the EPA, most of it ends up landfilled (7.7% of all U.S. landfill waste is textiles). Some gets incinerated. A small portion is downcycled into rags or insulation. But almost none of it becomes new clothes. That's where circular fashion comes in.
So, What Is Circular Fashion?
Circular fashion flips the fast fashion model completely: Instead of take → make → waste, it asks a different question: How do we keep clothing in use—and out of the trash?
Here's what that looks like in practice:
- Repairable by design: Buttons you can replace, seams you can mend, soles you can resole
- Rentable or swappable – Borrow a look for an event, return it when you're done
- Made to be remade – Brands that take back old pieces and turn them into new ones
- Recyclable – Not "technically recyclable," but really designed to be broken down and re-used.
It's a loop, not a line. And it's starting to catch on.
The Real Problem: Design, Not Disposal
The EPA reports that about 15% of textiles are recycled in the US. That sounds promising until you realize what "recycled" actually means.
Most of that becomes rags, insulation, or stuffing. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, only 1% of clothing is recycled into new clothing. Not because we don’t care, but because most items can’t be.
They’re blended with plastics
They use hard-to-remove dyes or embellishments
They fall apart after a few washes
Even when we want to recycle or donate, the options just aren’t there. That’s why the solution starts long before the shopping cart.
Brands That Are Actually Closing the Loop
This isn't just theory. There are companies already doing this—and doing it well.
Here are three I've been watching:
For Days: Take Back Bags accepts any brand's old clothes from any brand (not just theirs) and recycles them into new basics. Just send them your old clothes, and they do the rest.
Patagonia Worn Wear: Repairs and resells gear, plus they offer DIY repair guides, and lifetime support.
MUD Jeans: Lease jeans, return them, get new ones. Old denim becomes new denim. They've closed the loop on fashion's most iconic item.
These companies aren't just talking about sustainability—they're designing for it from day one.
What You Can Do Right Now
As we head into 2026, here's my ask: Before you make another "buy less" resolution, shift the question. Don't just ask "how much am I buying?" Ask "what system am I supporting?"
That's where the real change happens.
The brands mentioned above? They're showing us what's possible when we design clothes to last, to be repaired, to be remade. Supporting them—even in small ways—sends a signal. It tells the industry that we're done with disposable fashion.
Next week, Edie's taking this further. She's going to show you how to make your own closet circular right now—without waiting for the fashion industry to catch up.
(Spoiler: You probably already have everything you need.)
Until then, take a look at your closet. Not with guilt—but with curiosity. What could last longer? What deserves a second life?
P.S. If you check out any of these brands, let me know what you find.
Slow and steady,
Eddie 🐢🌿